A rare alliance of government, church, business and local executives has formalized a transparency push aimed at tightening oversight of billions of pesos in public works.
In a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in Taguig City on Feb. 23, the Department of Public Works and Highways joined forces with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines–Caritas Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mayors for Good Governance to institutionalize cooperation against alleged “ghost projects,” substandard construction and other infrastructure anomalies.
The agreement establishes a coordinated mechanism for reporting, validating and resolving irregularities in DPWH-funded projects nationwide. It mandates data sharing on project titles, locations, contractors, funding sources and implementation status—while ensuring compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
A shared database and joint validation process will allow real-time monitoring and fact-based investigations designed to be insulated from political interference. The framework’s implementing rules stress non-partisanship, institutional independence and mutual respect among signatories.
Central to the pact is citizen engagement. Parish networks,
civil society organizations, business associations and local government coalitions will mobilize volunteers to monitor projects on the ground.
Participants may conduct site inspections, document findings through geo-tagged reports and submit verified complaints for government action.
By combining state authority, moral leadership, private sector scrutiny and grassroots oversight, the coalition aims to rebuild public trust and raise construction standards across the country.
Officials said the partnership signals a unified commitment to ensure infrastructure funds translate into roads, bridges and public facilities that genuinely serve communities—rather than exist only on paper.
